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Paco Picnic

Though it’s a modern city on the up and up, with dining, drinking and shopping destinations opening on a weekly basis, Manila is also a city with a colonial past, and thus a wealth of historical Spanish, British and American-influenced architecture and culturally significant sites. One of those sites, Paco Park & Cemetery, was founded in 1820 by Dominican priests and went on to house the remains of many of the city’s aristocrats and heroes including Jose Rizal in the latter half of the century – but like the city itself, Paco has seen a gentrification of sorts in recent years. Since being declared a national park in 1966, the pretty, verdant space complete with charming Catholic chapel has become a prime spot for whiling away breezy spring days, especially when the atmosphere comes alive during open-air concerts staged each week.
What better way to make the most of your day at the park than with a treat-laden picnic basket, and better still, with said basket having been prepared for you by Baguettini – Ava Daza’s up-and-coming catering service quickly gaining a reputation for its namesake product. Mini baguettes come stuffed with a choice 9 decadent fillings including 4-cheese honey truffle, barbecue baby back ribs with onion and leek cream cheese, and a Vietnamese bahn mi iteration with pork, pickled carrots, daikon, and onions. And best of all – Daza will deliver them to your door so you can beeline straight for the park.